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Turkey’s diaspora policy is a growing EU concern

Friday, August 14, 2020

Significance

The politicisation stems from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s policy to mobilise and engage with the diaspora through political, cultural, social and economic ties. Erdogan now enjoys loyal support from Turkish communities in all three countries.

Impacts

  • Turkey may retaliate against efforts to check its influence in Europe, such as by closing European education institutes in Turkey.
  • The vote of the Turkish diaspora could be crucial in local elections in Europe, especially in cities such as Rotterdam, Vienna and Cologne.
  • Turkey will continue to seek arms deals with non-NATO countries to increase its independence from Europe and the United States.

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